Abstract
Obesity during pregnancy is a worrying public health problem worldwide. Maternal diet is critical for fatty acid (FA) placental transport and FA content in breast milk (BM). We evaluated FA composition in erythrocytes phospholipids (EP) and BM in pregnant women with (OBE, n = 30) and without (non-OBE, n = 31) obesity. Sixty-one healthy women were evaluated at their 20–24th gestational week and followed until 6th month of lactation. Diet was evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire. FA composition of EP and BM was assessed by gas-liquid chromatography. The OBE group showed lower diet quality, but total n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), ALA, EPA, and DHA dietary intake was similar between groups. N-3 PUFA, ALA, DHA, and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in EP were lower at the 6th lactation month in the OBE group. In BM, the arachidonic acid (AA) concentration was lower at the end of the lactation, and DHA content showed an earlier and constant decline in the OBE group compared to the non-OBE group. In conclusion, n-3 PUFA and AA and DHA levels were reduced in EP and BM in pregnant women with obesity. Strategies to increase n-3 PUFA are urgently needed during pregnancy and lactation, particularly in women with obesity.
Highlights
Accepted: 2 February 2022Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is relevant for fetal and infant human development [1]
We have reported that the maternal diet of healthy women during pregnancy and breastfeeding characterizes by a deficient intake of n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) [31]
Our main findings show that the content of n-3 PUFA and DHA in erythrocyte phospholipids was significantly lower during both pregnancy and lactation in women with obesity
Summary
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is relevant for fetal and infant human development [1]. An adequate nutrient supply from mother-to-fetus and motherto-newborn is critical for short- and long-term health outcomes of offspring [2,3]. Maternal diet and nutrition before conception, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, are essential to ensure adequate nutrients supply to the fetus and infant [4]. The association of perinatal maternal morbidity with preconception obesity has been well established. The effects of maternal obesity in utero range from fetal growth, neonatal body composition, and later adolescent obesity [5,6]. Obesity during pregnancy is a rising public health problem in different societies [6]
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